Star body size

[hellion]

Hi!

I'm in the process of building (ok, right now it's actually planning) my own Star (Chris Holmes Budweiser replica). So, is it possible to get the _exact_ body size by starting out with the outline of a Gibson Explorer body? I know that there are two different versions of the C/J Star - just the cut in the rear is a bit different; but are the lengths of the "horns" any different from a Gibson Explorer and does the Star therefore fit exactly into an Explorer body outline ?

The Jackson Chris Holmes replica has a (reversed) Strathead - why was that possible to order it that way from Jackson without any copyright problems?

Thanks!

[straycat]

Re: Star body size

Watch e bay for a dimarzio star body to come up.buy it save your money for the other stuff you'll need.Make sure the body has the san dimas electronics cavity rout (like on a model one).The dimarzio bodies are killer,some have binding some do not.maple, alder, basswood, some swamp ash.I bought a complete guitar for under 200.00.Look in pawn shops, used music stores like music go round for stuff like this.If you don't see anything ask the boss to call you if some thing comes in.I bought another dimarzio star strat head vintage trem gotoh san dimas tuners dimarzio 3 conducter early 80's creme super "D" for 110.00 at a music go round so they are out there.
But word to the wise there are plywood star bodies out there too dixon,aria,etc.

[straycat]

Re: Star body size

Hellion I could tell your a WASP fan. Star shaped guitars, Cris Holmes reference, the user name. Its all too obvious.Hellion is a great song.

[ September 28, 2003, 08:15 AM: Message edited by: Richard ]

[Greg Crowe]

Re: Star body size

I don't think there are "2 different versions of the C/J star". The differences I have noticed are:

1. Some early Star bodies do not have the comfort bevel cutout on the back.

2. The actual cut from going from an Explorer body to a Star body seems to vary all over the place, just like they took an Explorer and hand cut the rest out for the Star. That cut can vary quite a bit.

[hellion]

Re: Star body size

Originally posted by Richard:
Watch e bay for a dimarzio star body to come up.buy it save your money for the other stuff you'll need.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'm about to get a beat-up star built from warmoth parts, which also includes a case; so I'll have a good start from there (body size,..). I'm from Europe so ebay.com is always a PITA.
My plan is to have a new body built to my specifications; I've already got a vector graphic of the old Budweiser logo, so the "airbrush guy" will have a good reference.

Originally posted by Richard:
Hellion I could tell your a WASP fan. Star shaped guitars, Cris Holmes reference, the user name. Its all too obvious.Hellion is a great song.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">[img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img] Yeah, they were "my first metal band", I was listening to a bad-quality tape of their first EP (Animal) all the time.

Originally posted by Greg Crowe:

2. The actual cut from going from an Explorer body to a Star body seems to vary all over the place, just like they took an Explorer and hand cut the rest out for the Star. That cut can vary quite a bit.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ah, ok.. I always thought there were 2 different shapes, like in this picture:

[Newc]

Re: Star body size

I compared my import Charvel Star body to my USA Explorer and the lower front horn on the Explorer has a wider angle than the Star, meaning if straight down the neck is 0 degrees, the horn on the Explorer would point at 15 degrees, while the Star would point at 10 or 12.
Same for the rear horns/cuts.

Given that the first Star was EVH's "hacked up" Ibanez Destroyer, that's where you'd have to start.

Newc

[Greg Crowe]

Re: Star body size

That picture is the perfect example of what I was trying to point out. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]